Destinations: The World Awaits
Hotels: Your Home Away From Home
Sightseeing: Must-See Sights Are Included
Personal Service: On-Trip Support with a Smile
Transportation: Say Goodbye to Time Tables
Meals: An Included Breakfast Always Gets You Started Right
Testimonials: Everyone is Talking About Monograms
Globus family of brands: Part of a Rich 80-year History
You Choose Where You Want To Go
Spend a week in the city of your choice for an in-depth discovery—or just 3 nights for a relaxing mini-break. With Monograms, it's easy to combine multiple destinations, like Paris and London, or to explore North and South America. From the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Great Wall of China to the wonders of Italy and the magic of Russia, with Monograms, the world is waiting.
Vacation Packages and Theme Packages
Destinations
Europe Vacation Packages
Experience the style and culture of Europe, from its ancient wonders to its timeless beauty. Marvel at the Sistine Chapel. Admire masterpieces in the Louvre. Cruise the canals of Venice—or the canals of Amsterdam. And that's just the start!
Europe Vacation Packages
North America Vacation Packages
See North America's most famous national parks—or discover its vibrant cities. Sample Cajun fare in New Orleans or dig into a New England lobster feast. See a dazzling Broadway show or hike the beautiful Canadian Rockies. The choice is yours!
U.S. & Mexico Vacation Packages
Canada Vacation Packages
South America Vacation Packages
Set a course for adventure in exotic South America! Visit mystical Machu Picchu or encounter nature in the Galápagos. Learn the sensuous Tango in Buenos Aires or trek through the Amazon Rainforest. Feel the invigorating spray of Iguassu Falls or travel to the "End of the World."
South America Vacation Packages
Africa Vacation Packages
From the Serengeti and grasslands of the savannah to stunning Cape Town…from the lofty majesty of Mount Kilimanjaro to the life-sustaining depths of Ngorongoro Crater, Monograms shows you Africa in the way most meaningful to you.
Africa Vacation Packages
Asia Vacation Packages
Unlock ancient mysteries and modern marvels in Asia. Flood your senses in vibrant Hong Kong or stand in wonder in the shadow of the Great Wall. Visit Tokyo's intriguing Asakusa Kannon Temple or sample Thai cuisine in Bangkok.
Asia Vacation Packages
South Pacific Vacation Packages
Australia and New Zealand's most treasured destinations come to life. Explore Australia's Great Barrier Reef or visit geothermal Rotorua. Discover Sydney's distinctive Opera House, cruise across dramatic Milford Sound, or walkabout in the Outback.
Australia Vacation Packages
New Zealand Vacation Packages
You Choose Your Hotels
We know that accommodations are of paramount importance to your vacation enjoyment. Monograms offers an impressive selection of hotels that are known for great location, amenities, and services. They have mastered the art of balancing the need for efficiency with the desire of each traveler to receive individual attention.
On Monograms vacations, we offer you a choice of hotel accommodations to fit your style and budget. The specific hotel options are listed separately on each vacation page. Some vacations may only feature an included hotel.
Hotel Descriptions | Amenities & Services | Extra Nights
Europe Hotels
United States Hotels
Canada Hotels
South America Hotels
South Pacific Hotels
Asia Hotels
Africa Hotels
We reserve the right to substitute hotels listed on the vacation pages with hotels of equivalent standard. With your travel documents, you will receive a list of hotel addresses, including telephone numbers and fax numbers for your vacation.
Hotel Amenities & Services
To help you make decisions about your hotels, our rating system ranks the service, amenities, and décor of each hotel. Because the world offers such a variety of choices among hotels with a wide range of quality, amenities and services, we also use half increments to augment the precision of our scale. This helps us give more clarity to our overall ratings, so you can choose the perfect hotel for your vacation. The number of buttons for each property indicates the ranking according to the following system:
 |
Accommodations that are among the finest at your destination, featuring a high level of personal service, exceptional grounds and facilities, upscale décor, and rooms with high-quality amenities.
|
 |
Superior properties that feature a high level of service, stylish décor in public spaces and rooms, upscale amenities and grounds, and a true emphasis on comfort.
|
 |
Full-service hotels that offer upgraded furnishings and décor as well as good, dependable amenities and services. All include at least one bar, a restaurant serving meals throughout the day, in-room dining, and many feature a fitness center.
|
 |
Mid-range properties that offer a simple level of comfort and service, affordable rooms, and basic décor with a few added amenities. Most have a restaurant that serves continental or full breakfast and sometimes additional meals.
|
 |
Budget-minded properties that fulfill the basic needs of comfort and typically offer limited services and amenities. Most do not have an onsite restaurant but are usually within walking distance of dining options.
|
Extra Nights Before or After Your Vacation
If you require extra nights at the first and/or last vacation hotel, we will make reservations for you at the rates quoted, provided you request them at the time you book your vacation. Rates are per person, per night, and include room with private bath, breakfast (excluding North America), service charges, and taxes.
Extra nights are only available immediately prior to or after your trip. Every effort will be made to reserve extra nights at the hotel where your trip stays. If space at the trip hotel is not available, alternative accommodation will be reserved at a hotel of equivalent standard. When this is the case, the transfer from and to the trip hotel is at our expense.
As hotel space is limited, we cannot reserve more than two extra nights before and/or after your vacation, unless they are needed to bridge the gap between two Monograms trips. During particularly busy periods, hotel space in certain cities can become so tight that we may be unable to sell extra nights.
You personalize your experience
We know that your vacation is just that—your vacation. With that in mind, we help you truly personalize your getaway. With an outstanding collection of activities and excursions in each destination, Monograms gives you more choices, and that means your vacation will be exactly what you want it to be!
Most Monograms vacations include sightseeing and orientation in each city, so you don't miss the must-see sights. Monograms lets you personalize your vacation by adding your own set of activities and excursions throughout your vacation! How about an encounter with the world's greatest collection of Italian art at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence or an adventurous climb to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge? Or you may choose to immerse yourself in the local culture by attending a Navajo cookout in Monument Valley, enjoying a traditional folklore show in Budapest, or exploring the floating market at Damnoen Saduak near Bangkok. Whatever your interest, with Monograms you choose how to make the most of your time.
For added convenience, you can pre-purchase your activities and excursions online before your vacation.
Listed below is a small sample of Monograms activities and excursions throughout the world:
London: Theater & Dinner
A marvelous evening in London's theater district starts with dinner, followed by premium seats at one of London's sensational productions.
London Vacations
Paris: Versailles
Travel from Paris to the lavish 17th-century palace built by King Louis XIV, with its magnificent State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, and the Royal Chapel, or stroll through parts of the elegant 250-acre gardens.
Paris Vacations
Venice: Gondola Serenade
Glide in traditional style through centuries-old canals, under famous bridges, past lavish palaces and quaint piazzas, serenaded by live music.
Venice Vacations
San Francisco: Bike the Golden Gate Bridge
Enjoy a self-guided bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge or take the ferry to Angel Island for incredible views of the city skyline.
San Francisco Vacations
Rio de Janeiro: Rainforest Jeep Tour
Board an open four-wheel drive for an exciting ride through Tijuca Rainforest and see different types of tropical fruits & trees as well as animals like monkeys & various types of birds & butterflies.
Rio de Janeiro Vacations
Tokyo: Mount Fuji & Hakone with Lunch
Enjoy a panoramic view from 7,500 feet. Lunch is at the Hakone Lake Hotel, followed by a cruise on Lake Ashi and a Hokone gondola ride over Owakudani Valley.
Tokyo Vacations
Melbourne: Penguin Parade
See this unique event as each evening at dusk the little penguins come home from the sea at Phillip Island. You will be enthralled as you observe from the beach and the elevated boardwalk.
Melbourne Vacations
Make the most of your vacation
On a Monograms independent vacation, we'll help you feel right at home in your destination—even if it's your first time visiting there! Before you leave, you'll receive a Trip Planner complete with key information. Then, once you arrive at your destination, friendly, professional Local Hosts® are on hand to provide you with a Destination Guide, to offer hints and recommendations to help you get the lay of the land, and to ensure you have what you need to make the most of your time.
Local Host®
What's the best way to get around town? What are the local specialties and dining possibilities? What's the best time to visit the museum? Your Monograms Local Host® can tell you. Count on your Local Host® to give you a warm welcome, to share local insights and suggestions for getting off the beaten path, and to answer your vacation questions as they pop up.
Graziella, Venice
Graziella enjoys helping Monograms guests get to know her city. Sharing with them it's splendors, it's elegant palazzi, it's history, and special moments that only a city like Venice can create: sunset on the Lagoon, music in St. Marks' Square, and even the early morning atmosphere.
Italy Vacations
Maresa, Rome
Maresa has spent years traveling in Europe and Africa, and was the first English-speaking guide to lead the imperial city tour in Morocco. She has a great love for Rome and knows all its secrets, which she takes great pleasure in sharing.
Italy Vacations
Gordon, Edinburgh
With more than 25 years in the tourism industry and a member of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association, Gordon is passionate about sharing his love of Scotland with all Monograms travelers.
Scotland Vacations
Juan, Cusco
Born, raised, and educated in Cusco, Peru, Juan has been showing visitors his country for almost 20 years. Juan is always very proud to share his heritage and Peru's history.
South America Vacations
Alice, Cairns
Alice has worked in the tourism industry for the past 8 years. She is proud to call Cairns home—where The Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest exist side by side—and is excited to share her experience, love, and knowledge of this region.
Australia Vacations
Emily, Guilin
After graduating from the Guilin Tourism Institute, Emily's kind and easy-going personality helped her become a successful Local Host®. She is ready to share her wealth of knowledge and show Monograms' clients the spectacular scenery surrounding Guilin.
Asia Vacations
We'll Get You Around & We Make Traveling Easy
You've spent three wonderful days in city "A" but now you need to get to city "B." You get a train schedule from the front desk and try to figure out the best time to travel. Where is the train station anyway? And you'll need transportation to get you to your transportation. What if you're in Asia? You'll need a flight to get from Tokyo to Beijing. All of this sounds extremely time consuming with much room for error. But not with Monograms. When you buy a Monograms package, all intra-city transportation is included in your package price, not only for a great value but for a lot less hassle while you are on vacation. All aboard!!
Types of Transportation
Depending on where you are going, you could be traveling on many modes of transportation. Here's a list of types of transportation used by Monograms:
-
Trains & Rail
For example, in Europe you could travel from London to Paris on the high-speed Eurostar train, in Western Canada on the Rocky Mountaineer, or in Alaska on the Alaska Railroad.
RedLeaf Service on the Rocky Mountaineer provides spacious, fully reclining seats, picture windows, and delicious meals served at your seat. An upgrade to GoldLeaf Dome Service features extra attendants, an elegant dome car, and gourmet meals in a separate dining car.
The Alaska Railroad is the perfect way to see the state's spectacular scenery. Adventure Class provides spacious seats and picture windows, while an upgrade to GoldStar Service features a confirmed seat in the upper-level dome car, complimentary nonalcoholic beverages served at your seat, priority check-in and boarding, a private outdoor viewing deck, and priority seating in the lower-level dining room.
-
Ships
There are vacations where you'll travel by ship, including the Aria on the northern Amazon River in Peru, the Santa Cruz in the Galápagos Islands or on the Reef Endeavour in Fiji, as well as many others.
-
Intra-Vacation Flights
There will be times where the only way or the fastest way to get to your next destination will be to fly. For example, we'll arrange your flight from Hong Kong to Beijing or from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires. Monograms offers many vacations where flying from one city to another is the best mode of transportation.
-
Rental Cars
Renting a car is one of the best ways to explore the beauty and diversity of North America and New Zealand. When you book a Driving Vacation, you're in control of your vacation. View a list of Hertz (North America) and Avis (New Zealand) vehicles to help you find the perfect-sized car for your needs.
Included Meals
Vacations to Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and Africa include breakfast. Breakfast is a buffet (B) and is listed on each itinerary page. In North America we do not include breakfast. Your Local Host® can assist in recommending local favorites or you can simply explore on your own!
Dining in Style
In general, lunches and dinners are not included in your Monograms vacation. Your Local Host® will have a number of suggestions for dining—after all, one of the best ways to learn about other cultures is to eat like the locals do!
On some travel days in remote regions, on cruises, and at some resorts we include lunches and dinners. Please check the included section on the vacation page for a list.
Unlike an airline, we cannot process requests for special meals. While some hotels and restaurants may be able to provide for a special diet, such as vegetarian or salt-free food, there is no way for us to guarantee this. Special food usually costs extra. Please ask your Local Host® for assistance.
Look Who's Talking About Monograms!
"I wanted to send you a quick note of thanks for the wonderful Monograms Vacation we just took!
We just returned from our trip to Italy (Sorrento, Rome, Florence & Venice) and had such a fabulous time.
We loved the Monograms approach to our vacation. It was great to have the city hosts meet us at the train, bring us to the train, help us with the city, etc.
The local guides were amazing. Our guide in Rome (Francisco I think) was so knowledgeable and amazing but our guide in Florence (Andrea) was stellar! He explained just about every inch of the David statue to us, that someone like me (not an art buff by any stretch of the imagination) was fascinated and hanging on his every word. He gets the gold star in my book.
I am now telling everyone I know all about Monograms and the pleasure of going at our own pace…Thank you again!"
-Susan M.
"I want to tell you that everything was perfect. The hotels were very nice and the view from Sofitel hotel in Rio de Janeiro...was amazing!!! The same in Iguassu Falls. Tropical Das Cataratas was the only hotel located in the national park on the Brazilian side. We were so close to waterfalls. We could see them from the hotel restaurant!!!
The Eco Lodge was very nice too. Great food, small but very nice and clean rooms…The hotel in Buenos Aires (Sheraton Libertador) was located in the heart of the city. We could walk everywhere..."
-Aga O.
"... There is always at least one half-day city tour included [on Monograms vacations] and numerous other optional excursions guests can choose from either when booking or during their trip. For instance, included in my Monograms program was a guided tour of Amsterdam's Rijks Museum. I can't remember the last time I participated in a guided tour of an art museum. But our tour guide gave such an interesting anecdotal and historical insight into 17th century Dutch artwork, that it completely renewed my interest in having the techniques and stories behind the artwork and the artists explained to me -- the paintings became so much more than just paintings."
"Probably the best feature of the Monograms program, and one that is really hard to appreciate to its fullest until you are on the ground in the destination, is the local city host. This person is your local contact while in a given city, and he/she is available during certain hours in the hotel lobby where Monograms guests are staying, as well as on call, having provided a cell phone number to guests."
-Michelle B., Travel Weekly
"The trip Rome-Paris-London was great and all of us, including the 4 grandchildren, loved it. (Monograms) did an outstanding job in planning the itinerary, selecting hotels, selecting restaurants, and hiring local guides, all of whom were excellent."
-Bob M.
"In general, the Monograms brand is the ideal family travel style, particularly for a long-haul destination the family's never visited and for families with younger children. With Monograms, travelers can avoid the bus tour scenario and yet - because China is a very exotic destination - still travel with the kind of hand-holding support from local Monograms guides, making the vacation experience worry-free."
-Recommend Magazine
"Just wanted to get back with you and let you know that once again our (Monograms) experience was very good. They were right at the airport to pick us up and handled all our luggage, hotels, and train travel between London and Paris with their usual efficiency... I really liked the independent form of travel and (Monograms) had representatives at both hotels who were eager to make suggestions of things to do and how to get around. In England we ventured all around the country to Stonehenge, Liverpool, Brighton, Avebury, Glastonbury, Windsor, etc. In Paris, by doing our own thing, it really forced us to use the French language and we moved easily around Paris via subway and taxi. The weather was a pleasant, cool, 60 degrees and we had great times just sitting along the boulevards, sipping wine and chatting with the locals. It was indeed a great time."
-Carole P.
"For me, the best part of my Monograms experience in Rome was having the time to get to know the destination on my own, while still having a Local Host® to turn to for advice and tips when I wanted it. I was able to rent a scooter and explore the city one day and take an iPod walking tour another day, but I still had the guidance and support you look for from a tour operator. Plus, the half-day tour of the city was incredibly informative. That alone would have made for a great trip."
-Kenneth S., Editor-in-Chief, TravelAge West
"The trip was amazing! Doing the monograms vacation package is totally the way to go! We were greeted at the airport and didn't need to worry about transportation to the hotel. The hotel exceeded my expectations and was a wonderful location for us to stay. We were within walking distance to the subway which helped our ability to do independent exploring. Our guide was awesome! He was very helpful and funny! He was at the hotel in the lobby when we arrived back from a day out on our own. We were able to ask him advice and to find out hot spots in town. Overall, I would recommend this vacation to everyone I know. It was a great experience!"
-Trish T.
"On a Monograms program, you have someone to meet you at the airport, take you to your hotel, provide certain inclusions such as a city tour, show you the ropes, answer your questions and help you do what you want to do. For those who have an aversion to organized group travel, think of Monograms has having a friend in the destination, a local who knows the language and the destination and is professionally trained to help you make the most of your trip."
"The model of Monograms is a middle ground between escorted touring and independent travel. It's an excellent way to go, especially to a destination where you don't know the language."
-David C., Modern Agent
"The trip was beyond our imaginations. Unquestionably, one of the highlights of this trip was the location of the Mercure Tours Suffren hotel. The ladies were stunned that we were so-o-o-o close to the Eiffel Tower."
"…the trip was educational, entertaining, gastronomically delightful, a shopping dream, and all around drop-dead phenomenal."
-Jean H.
"If you equate "group tour" with "herd," check out (Monograms) trips which lay out your vacation but then set you free ..."
-Travel+Leisure
Trip was outstanding. Jeanie and I always rate what we do on a scale of 1-10. Jeanie gave Budapest a 10, Vienna a 9, and Prague a 10!!
-Tom F.
"I loved the idea of the tour having as much freedom as it did. Not having to pick out a hotel, arrange the transfers, booking the major exhibits in each city made the trip delightful and stress-free."
-Patti
Partnerships
Where & How It All Began
It all began more than 80 years ago when a young man purchased a rowboat to transport visitors across Lake Lugano, Switzerland. Who would have thought that this single rowboat would launch one of the world's leading travel companies?
Today, the Globus family of brands is a global company reaching every corner of the world, yet remains family-owned and steeped in the values Antonio had when he set out across Lake Lugano—to enlighten travelers by showing them the very best of the destinations we know so well.
The Globus story takes us back to 1928 in Lugano, Switzerland. Our founder, Antonio Mantegazza, had been fascinated with travel and the wonder he saw in the eyes of travelers to his home country. To pursue this interest, Antonio bought a rowboat (on credit) and began transporting visitors to the area across Lake Lugano, sharing stories of the local sights and stories along the way. This small enterprise grew quickly, motivating a young Antonio to purchase more rowboats, convincing his friends to join him as he expanded this budding business.
Rowboats grew to motorboats, then moved to land with a taxi service. Every good story has an element of luck, and our story is no exception. Antonio's good fortune came in the form of a local sweepstakes, from which Antonio won the rights to operate a popular local route for the Swiss national postal and transportation service. To service this route, Antonio purchased his first motorcoach--the beginning of motorcoach touring as we know it today. Now in his 30's, Antonio was at the helm of a full-fledged travel business—a company he named Globus Viaggi.
Through the 1930's, this company grew to a fleet of 12 coaches, operating local tours for European tourists in Switzerland. Business remained strong, and after a hiatus during World War II, Antonio acquired two other competing coach companies and grew his fleet to 33 coaches (his nearest competitor had just five!).
Over the years, Antonio's business dealings introduced him to another young man who shared his ideals and passion for travel—Werner Albek. Antonio and Werner partnered to operate popular excursions to St. Moritz, Milan, Venice, Rome, etc. Only later did Werner and Antonio discover that Werner's fiancé, Eurosia, was the daughter of Antonio's sister, Agnese. This family connection formed the foundation of the company for the decades to come.
As business grew through the 1950's, so did the company's scope. The Globus portfolio had expanded from Switzerland and Italy to the French Riviera, Scandinavia, Holland, Belgium and England. Innovation was a key ingredient in this success. Early in the decade, Globus developed the first "circular tours," designed as a more complete travel experience and enhancing the convenience of motorcoach touring. Antonio and Werner also pioneered the concept of Grand European Touring by offering first-class European tours, which became the cornerstone of the company's entry into the U.S. market in the late 50's.
Now with his son Sergio by his side, Antonio and the company continued its rapid growth. In the 60's, the company launched its Cosmos arm, which featured affordable, value-priced European touring for the cost-conscious traveler. These coach tours were so successful that Cosmos soon introduced another form of travel: air holiday packages to the sunny destinations of southern Europe. Then in the 80's, Globus truly became worldwide, selling in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Destinations expanded, too, adding Africa, the South Pacific and Asia to its array of vacations in Europe, North America and South America.
The spirit of innovation continues today. In 2003, both Avalon Waterways and Monograms were introduced, adding river cruising and independent travel to the expansive product offering. Today, the Globus family of brands is marketed and operated by a network of more than 32 offices around the world, serviced by a group of more than 5,000 professionals. Combined, Globus, Cosmos, Monograms and Avalon Waterways carry over 500,000 passengers a year, making the organization the leading operator of guided vacations worldwide.
At the core of the company are Antonio's ideals of passion, hard work, innovation and love for travel. These values are the cornerstone on which Monograms was built and will continue to grow for generations to come.
About the Globus family of brands
The Globus family of brands provides a variety of products addressing the needs of today's diverse traveler with unparalleled vacation experiences, full of discovery and insight. Globus has been offering hundreds of unique itineraries all over the world for more than 80 years! Our experience allows all of these brands to offer value, experience and world-class customer service that is unmatched in the travel industry.
Join Monograms on Facebook
In addition to Monograms, the family of brands includes:
 |
Anyone can visit the sights, but with Globus you also get the little-known insights, engaging commentary, and unique experiences that tell the story of the destination. For more than 80 years Globus has been delivering first-class experiences to travelers.
Join Globus on Facebook |
|
|
 |
Cosmos vacations combine the freedom of independent travel with the benefits of group travel, all at an unbelievable value. Discover all the possibilities that Cosmos can open up for you-putting your travel dreams within reach.
Join Cosmos on Facebook |
|
|
 |
Avalon Waterways sets the standard in river cruising with the newest fleet and extraordinary itineraries. Avalon Waterways also offers small-ship cruises to the Galapagos Islands! Unpack only once, then relax, take in the sights, and let us do the rest.
Join Avalon Waterways on Facebook |